It is a fact, perhaps not as well known as it should be, that, until recently, if you were a British student attending a university in the UK, the Government paid 60% of your course fees. That contribution wasn’t available for students from overseas, which is why their course fees have always been so much higher.
Because of the poor economic climate, the current Government have reduced that contribution to 40%. It must have seemed a great idea in the meeting: just one small change and a saving of 1/3rd on what the tax payer was giving to educate the next generation.
Except, completely coincidentally, course fees around the country have inexplicably jumped by exactly the right amount to offset that loss (and perhaps a bit more), leaving the Government slightly worse off than if they’d left well alone. While the foreign students (and those studying for a lesser or equal qualification), suddenly find themselves facing course fees that have jumped by 40%. It’s a shame, because foreign students contribute a lot to the economy and now fewer of them will be able to afford to come.
Go figure.
